another question

A wedding ceremony featuring a call to arms against the demons must be an interesting one . . . a little different from what we are used to, perhaps. :) Cadhinorian wedding rites, unlike Cuzeian, do feature a celebrant, am I correct? Does (s)he play an important role in the ceremony or not?

As for Eledhi - do they follow the Catholic tradition of including marriage as one of the seven sacrements, or are their rites influenced by the Cuzeians (or even the pagans)?

You mention that Verdurians have fewer children than Europeans of approximately the same technological level. Is this due to more ready access to contraception (though you stated they don't have uciro) or simply due to less religious and societal emphasis on large families?

Finally, at one stage, you referred to Ismahi as being noted for polygamy, I believe. Is that still the case? I suppose this would give the rest of the plain reason to consider them decadent, or perhaps just crazy. . .

Cheers,

--Rhisto Filipei

Mark responds:

1. Yes, Cadhinorian marriages have a priest-- or two, one representing
each party. Their role is to represent the gods and ask their blessing;
this is considered a very important and necessary role. Socially, one
can say that the role of the parents is just as important: to recognize
a new alliance between the two families.

2. The Eledhi of the east follow early Catholic traditions; I'd have to
do some research to even know if Christians of AD 325 even considered
marriage a sacrament! The western Eledhi follow Arashei traditions,
which are a more ecclesiastical version of those of Cuzei. (That is,
the church replaces the Glade, and there is a priest and liturgy--
Arashei religion is much more rigid and ritualized.)

3. As for number of children, it's largely biological: Almean women,
so long as they're nursing, tend to give birth every four years or so,
rather than every year or two.

4. I don't recall saying that the Ismaîn were polygamous (though if you can
find it, remind me :), but I did say they have a reputation for decadence
and licentiousness. Maybe it's the oysters...